Directorate S: The C.I.A. and America’s Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan | Steve Coll

Directorate S: The C. I. A. and America’s Secret Wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Steve Coll – The Definitive Exposé of Covert Failures

Introduction: The Shadow War That Shaped the 21st Century

Award-winning journalist Steve Coll’s Directorate S represents the most thorough examination of the United States’ secretive operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This compelling follow-up to Ghost Wars uncovers how the CIA’s secretive conflict with the ISI’s hidden branch (Directorate S) perpetuated unending warfare, revealing a two-decade history of strategic errors, betrayals, and repercussions.

Why This Book is Essential Reading

• Drawing from classified sources – Including CIA communications and ISI internal documents
• Numerous interviews conducted – With intelligence agents, military leaders, Taliban officials, and government decision-makers
• Uncovers the origins of contemporary chaos – From 9/11 to the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021

Key Revelations & Explosive Findings

1. The Double Game (2001-2008)

• ISI’s Directorate S – Pakistan’s covert endorsement of the Taliban while benefiting from US assistance
• CIA’s willful ignorance – Overlooking proof of Pakistan’s duplicity
• Failures of the drone campaign – Targeting civilians but not eliminating Taliban leadership

2. The Obama Era Surge & Betrayal (2009-2014)

• "Cooperative" ISI operatives disclosing US strategies to the Taliban
• The Haqqani Network’s sheltering – Shielded by Pakistan’s armed forces
• Bin Laden’s location in Abbottabad – How Pakistan may have been aware all along

3. The Unraveling (2015-2018)

• Trump’s erratic policies – Threats versus vague strategies
• Corruption within the Afghan government – Undermining US initiatives
• The Taliban’s strategic patience – Outlasting America’s exit

Why This Book Matters Today

• Clarifies the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021 – Directly tied to these covert operations
• Sheds light on Pakistan’s strategic depth doctrine – Reasons for their enduring support of the Taliban
• Provides insights for future interventions – The consequences of secrecy and lack of transparency

Standout Chapters

• The Great Deception – How ISI manipulated both factions
• Karzai’s Mistrust – The Afghan president's shift against America
• The Drone Paradox – High-tech assassins that failed to secure victory

Who Should Read This?

• Policymakers & Military Strategists – Insights into lessons from unsuccessful interventions
• Journalists & Historians – The definitive narrative of the covert conflict
• General Readers – An authentic spy thriller with worldwide ramifications

Criticisms (For Balance)

• Potential US-centric focus? – Some perspectives from Afghanistan and Pakistan may be underrepresented
• Occasionally dense – A complex network of agencies and operations
• Incomplete classified information – Certain secrets remain undisclosed

Final Verdict: The Masterpiece of Modern Espionage History

Coll’s scholarship stands as the benchmark for comprehending why America faltered in its longest wara tragic tale of arrogance, deception, and unforeseen consequences.